Is RGS too much of a hot house?

I have two sons and am thinking about RGS because they are quite bright and need stretching. It sounds like an amazing place academically. But is being the best school academically always the best thing for a kid? I know four grown men who left RGS during the last decade - one had a breakdown recently, three said they wouldn't ever send their own son there because they had been pushed too far and been miserable. The atmosphere strange because various boys asked to leave along the way because their results not good enough - would affect the league tables. Two said strangely that they hadn't realised how miserable they'd been until they left and realised what fun and hard work other boys had been having. I feel very confused. Is sending a boy to a school that is full of other very bright boys going to get them great results but mess them up - should we think about a school with a more varied academic intake?

Exactly - where?! For me, RGS means Royal Grammer School in Newcastle. You could mean somewhere very different...

Don't listen to people who left a school years ago dictate what you'd do for your children. When else in life would you pick solely on a reputation 20 years put of date? . Go and look round it. Do you like it? Will if suit them? If yes then all good, if not then look elsewhere.

The results look good, the school feels okay, it's close to us and ticks all logistic boxes. When you speak to parents currently with boys there, they all seem happy, but then, I tend to find no one ever speaks badly of a school they have children at themselves to anyone not at that school. The only thing we have to go about whether a hot house is okay or not, is these 20+ year olds who were there fairly recently. None of them related/know each other, all separate conversations. Through work and other places. All wouldn't send their kids there. Strange. Still confused. Should i ignore this info and make decision without it?

With RGS, not sure whether its a hot house, but be aware that they do have a pretty intensive selection procedure. My ds is currently level 5/6, on accelerated learning programme at current school, yet didn't pass the entrance exam. So, in some ways, if its not the right sort of school then the choice will be made for you. DS himself said that it felt crowded and cramped (no reflection on RGS) which made me realise hes better suited to semi rural rather than a town centre school.

Thanks Labro and good point. I didn't mean to be misleading but should have said that my oldest DS has been offered a deferred entry place and am now trying to decide whether to take it or not. I'm worried that it might be too intense - the whole entrance exam process showed me just how intense it could be and made me start thinking about whether there are after-effects on the boys who go through a school that is as selective and hot house in its approach as it is. That's why I sought some points of view from old (but quite recent) RGS boys and sadly got negative answers. I guess I could do with hearing from some happy old RGS boys to balance it out - anyone got a hub who's been through the school with an opinion for me? I don't know why this seems important info to gather but I'm niggled now and need advice.

The boys I know there seem happy. Several decided to stay on into sixth form rather than go elsewhere although they did look. I don't really recognise it as a "hothouse". It is for bright boys, and they achieve but don't seem especially hot housed.

However if a boy just scrapes in he can go through feeling "thick" despite being one of the brightest in the general population.

It also advises boys to go to the best Unis for them not just Oxbridge or Medicine.

I've got good friends both in their early 20's - one had a fantastic RGS experience, went on to Cambridge and is very confident, very much a 'public speaker' type. The other is much quieter, more musically orientated and felt somewhat battered by his experiences and has ended up as a perpetual student. Not sure if this helps you, though if your ds didn't accept RGS, where would he want to go?

Hmm. I think that 'thick' feeling Mummytime is a common theme - I guess when a boy has been top of his prep school which isn't that selective, always felt good and confident about himself, and then joins a population of very select boys who are all v bright, and turns out to be the 'thicker' one amongst them, it can be quite a knock. Even if the reality is that none of them really are 'thick' at all! Hopefully the school manage that well?? And if not, may be having a wider variety of academic levels around you is better and hothouse (for want of a better word ) is not the answer?

Thanks Labro for more on the 20+ ex pupil examples, all interesting and v helpful. May be I over-think things? I just want the boys to be happy in life after school too - but their school can make or break that sometimes. What a choice, and he's only 10! I'm not cut out for all these big decisions!

depends on your ds. Is he the sort to feel 'not quite good enough' and what effect will that have on him? will he lose self esteem/give up/shrug it off, or will it spur him on to do his best?

strangely enough, I have considered the girls local equivalent, academically my dd is likely to be of the standard but like you, I know several 'old girl' parents who are emphatic about not sending their dds there and for me, I know my dd is not resilient enough to cope with feeling mediocre when she has given her all.

Gosh those are great questions to ask yourself aren't they; thank you for the good approach to thinking about it holidaysrcoming.

It's tough because so far he's been lucky enough to be top in many things because his prep school is good but not extremely academic, and he hasn't experienced that mediocre feeling too often - I know it's coming though and he should experience it if he is to get a true feel for life! I think he enjoys competition but if he continually 'loses' he does actually back off - a sport/instrument/subject - and say he's rubbish at it, even if he's actually ok just not the best. In some instances competition does spur him on to do better but if his better doesn't work, he then gives up. That's not a good attitude I guess but it is what it is for now until we work on it. What to do - stick him in to RGS and hope I can teach him it's okay to be mediocre and keep his head down anyway, or let him feel good about himself elsewhere and learn the mediocre feeling when he gets to Uni/work instead? I guess by then, his hormones will have settled a bit and he'll be able to deal better with these tough feelings!?

Out of the now six 20+ year old ex pupils in my sample of old RGS boys (my 4 and labro's 2), 5 didn't cope with the above feelings and one did - would that be a fair conclusion? A few more to make it fair would be good!

Really grateful to you all, I'm going in circles with this alone and yes I know I'm boring and over-analyse...

He did well academically for O levels, left for A levels which he scraped through and then got a third class degree. Very smart but didn't learn how to motivate himself, think that might be an ongoing issue with private school kids though.

Not very helpful.

It is very difficult to get in though, so maybe keep an open mind and don't fix on one school. I know parents ho made RGS entrance there one aim, tough on the kids when they fail and end up at the very good local comp.

Son went there, it definitely is not a hot house. If your son is bright enough to get in comfortably then he will be fine, well more than fine- most likely thrive, have a lot of fun, great friends which are like-minded and an environment of total acceptance of each and every boy whether they are sporty, ladish, geeky, musical etc etc.

I said this previously on a thread about GHS and I think the same applies -it comes down a lot to the parents. I've seen it happening.If the fact he is at RGS makes you become very pushy and put unnecessary pressure on your DS then he will feel pressured to do well and if you don't celebrate his achievements however big or small then he will lack self-esteem and feel he isn't doing well enough. Parents are the primary place academic children get reinforcement often. They want their parents pride and approval and this is what will give them the confidence and hence let them relax, enjoy their school and make the most of opportunities without worrying about failure.

Ok, point taken HappyMum22 :-) you're quite right, they take their lead from us in most things. Sounds like you're a happy mum of a happy 20+ year old ex RGS boy who's thriving - so I'll count your son as an RGS success in my sample :-)

One question if you have time and don't mind? Is it true that boys are asked to leave if their grades aren't good enough? I've heard this has happened a few times?

Lifesconfusing - the boys you know who left - are they the only ones you know from RGS? Or do you also know some who were happy there?Where did the other boys go to school who they said were happy and fulfilled? I bet you could find boys from those schools who had also been miserable. School days aren't perfect anywhere.

Can you directly ask the school if they get boys to leave if they achieve below expected level. Their reply is better than gossip and hearsay.

I am interested in your post, as DS has also got a place at RGS. It seemed to me a happy school, full of bright and rather eccentric, gentle boys. But as you say, it's not all about exam results. These are formative years and we want them to come away feeling happy and confident as adults.

As I often post on RGS threads you may know I have DS1 at the school and DS2 has a 11+ place for September.

I would agree with Happymum22 - RGS is a place where boys can be what they want to be and all are accepted. At primary DS was called a nerd & geek for being academic - at RGS his friends genuinely applaud his achivements, and he theirs. He went there from state primary not knowing a soul, and now has a great group of friends. He often says he is really glad he went to RGS and it is worth the money!As RGS has this reputation as a 'hothouse' people assume DS is slaving over hours of homework every night - more like an hour of homework & 2 hours of PS3...

I've heard feedback of such differing kinds, including quite a lot of negative comments recently: 'it sapped the fun out of my child'; 'it's not a fun school'; it's not a kind place to be'; 'it's very demoralising if you are bottom of the class.'

These comments really concerned me, as when we looked round the school (three times!) DS, DH and I all felt it was exactly the place you describe. It seemed warm and safe and a place where bright boys could be themselves without being sneered at for their keenness and geekery.

I can't think of any specific examples perhaps one boy from my sons year of 150 was reccomended he left after gcses. IMO though all good selective schools should be doing this with extremely low achievers compared to their average; if they realise a child isn't thriving and is much weaker than other boys then I'd hope they would identify the reasons and if they realise the environment and academic atmosphere of RGS isn't right for a boy to do a levels there, then they will advise where he should try and go which will be more suitable for that boy.If my son had struggled with GCSEs (and it would have to be seriously not doing well (Bs and Cs probably)) then I would not want the school to allow me to blindly keep my son in an environment where he would not cope or get the type of teaching and support he needed.

I always find it frustrating when parents accuse schools (normally falsely) of 'chucking out those with bad results'. If it is a selective school to start with they are simply thinking of the child and whether they are being best catered for at that academic environment.

I know a boy who achieved bad results but this was because he'd lost his mother just before the exams. Even with special consideration he still came out with very low grades not reflective of his ability. The school supported him during sixth form to retake some and progress to A levels. Shows every case is considered and they definitely aren't thinking in any way just about their grade statistics.

Glad to help racingheart!I have never heard any of these sort of negative comments, which I think is probably because my boys were/are in state primary, hence only the pros & cons of the Guildford comps are generally discussed in my social circle! I imagine prep school mums' discussions are differently focused.The comments certainly don't ring true with the RGS I have experienced in the last couple of years - there is plenty of room for fun & kindness.I have not heard of anyone being 'asked to leave'.

My boy is going there in September and we are very happy about the choice. Friends with children at the school (current and past) have also been very happy. I did not get the hothouse feeling at all, like has been said on this site before, just the privilege of being with other bright children. All the private schools have a similarly rigorous entrance process, and as Labro said, they determine who will suit the school. If you come from a prep school, you have the added advantage of advice from your head as to whether they think your child should be suitable. I think most private schools will ask you to leave if not performing. I know a friend who is expecting all her 3 children to be asked to leave their school, where they have been since age 7, when they get to 6th form! That is life, unfortunately.

I work in a school where it is not the norm to ask pupils to leave if they are struggling. We would do all we can to help support the child to make progress within our setting. The only time that parents have been encouraged is if the child would be better suited to a special school rather than a mainstream setting, maybe one child every 5 years or so.